Used Volvo V40 review – hatchback's up to the multi-task

The Volvo V40 is a superb all-rounder that is a really sound second-hand family hatchback thanks to its performance and safety kit. We check out the car's spec, performance and pricing in D2 R-Design guise.

The model we have on test is the D2 R-Design, which comes with a sporty exterior bodykit, black diamond-turned alloy wheels and sports seats with leather and Alcantara. This particular car has the 115PS 1.6-litre diesel engine under the bonnet.

From the word go, the V40 feels good to drive. The seating position is spot-on and the whole car feels refined and an enjoyable place to be.

Around the cabin, there are several clever little Swedish hints of practicality.

There’s a violet-coloured LED light, for example, that stays on while driving at night to help you see where things are in the cabin, but it doesn’t distract you at all from driving.

Volvo D2 R-Design

The cup holders are very large, so can hold bigger bottles, and there’s also a hidden cubby hole behind the “floating” centre console, which keeps your mobile phone out of view.

On the outside, the V40 is very distinctive, having swooped hatchback looks with a very masculine feel.

The rear especially stands out with a two-tone look. The upper part of the boot is black on all cars as well as having the paint colour on the lower half. Our car was finished in “Ice White” and really emphasised the black well.

The R-Design also comes with very large dual chrome exhausts, adding to the V40s sporty character.

The cabin feels very well made and up-to-the minute, with DAB radio, cruise control, climate control and buttons and switches that are very easy to use. The car’s practicality, though, is where the V40 really impresses.

Legroom in the rear is very good, as is headroom, despite that sloping roof. The boot is a great size, too, thanks to there being no full-size spare, giving you extra depth so all the family luggage will fit and, occasionally, the family spaniel.

Volvo D2 R-Design

Out on the open road, it grips through the bends and acceleration is excellent, with some real poke from the engine when you need it.

Safe overtaking is a breeze thanks to the torque the diesel engine has from low down the rev range. Point it at any corner and it feels very precise, not numb like some hatches.

Handling is great and the whole car was very enjoyable to drive, and it certainly has some sporting credentials, too.

The V40 also seems to have a split personality – it’s a fun car that you can enjoy on country roads but also a motorway cruiser that’s whisper-quiet and as relaxing as you expect a Volvo to be.

Part of the reason you can feel relaxed is the plethora of safety kit as standard. From curtain airbags, knee airbags and front collision airbags, the V40 gives you the peace of mind that, if you were in a crash, you’d walk away from it.

As standard, it also has autonomous braking to stop you from crashing in low speed traffic. This one really works – up to 60mph, in fact. Another feature worth highlighting is the pedestrian airbag that deploys should someone walk out in front of the car.

Volvo D2 R-Design

Economy around town was impressive. In stop-start city traffic through the centre of Glasgow, it averaged nearly 53mpg and, out on the motorway, this number improved greatly. The emissions figures are so low that there is no road tax.

The V40 really is great value on the used car market. Our one only had 4000 miles on the clock and was a year old. It was priced at £16,495 which isn’t bad for a well equipped hatch that would cost £25,395 new.

If you want a brilliant family hatchback that feels as solid, safe and Swedish as we’ve come to expect of Volvo, and that’s a real corker as a second-hand buy, the V40 will not disappoint.

You’d be hard pressed to find a better used hatch that can multi-task as a great all-rounder than the V40.